Puerto Rican Officials Hold27 Dominican Migrants

Latin America & Caribbean - In Brief

December 28, 2004

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico -- Authorities detained 27 Dominican boat migrants Monday near Puerto Rico's coast, police said. The illegal migrants, 17 men and 10 women, told authorities they were adrift at sea for four days after the smugglers abandoned the boat because of motor problems, police said. All of the migrants were in good health. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter spotted the boat off Cabo Rojo, a town in southwestern Puerto Rico, said Lt. Eric Willis, a spokesman. A maritime-police boat later detained them. "All of them will be repatriated," Willis said.